2008 Woodie Awards
Sports Articles
Far away from home
Venker goes from Netherlands to CMU softball's starting catcher
By
Margo Jonker travels to the Netherlands each January to conduct softball clinics for the Dutch National Team. But last year, she tutored a player who caught her eye. Now, more than a year later, Ellen Venker is the starting catcher for the CMU softball team.
Home runs not enough to sweep Valpo
Underclassmen hit three in two-game split Wednesday
By
Three home runs by underclassman hitters were not enough for the softball team to beat Valparaiso in the second game of its doubleheader Wednesday. Sophomore first baseman Jill Schulz, sophomore second baseman Katie Greenman and freshman shortstop Brittini Merchant all hit their first career home runs in the 8-6 loss to the Crusaders at the CMU Softball Complex.
Baseball comes back to beat Oakland, 7-6
Freshman Ingle provides winning single on full count to score Emmett
By
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the score tied and the count full on Wednesday at Theunissen Stadium, redshirt freshman Casey Ingle played like a senior. Ingle blasted a 3-2 pitch in the right center gap that glanced off of center fielder Justin Wilson's glove and fell to the ground.
Rival Western Michigan first for softball in MAC today
By
Softball coach Margo Jonker promised better effort in the softball team's Mid-American Conference opener today against Western Michigan after a split with Valparaiso on Wednesday. History is on her side. Jonker has won nine consecutive MAC home openers and five consecutive games overall.
Gymnastics more than meets the eye
Performing events no easy task in front of hostile crowds
By
Impossible. There's no other way to describe what gymnasts do on a daily basis. How does a human being stay on a four-inch wide surface four-and-a-half feet off the ground? Or grasp a bar or stick a landing after flinging themselves through the air? To do it in the friendly confines of practice is one thing.
Seniors look for elusive MAC title
By
The gymnastics team has one meet left to put it all together. CMU competes in the Mid-American Conference Championship meet Saturday in Kent, Ohio. It will open the seven-rotation meet with a bye, followed by balance beam and then floor exercise. The Chippewas then will have their second bye before performing the vault, followed by the third bye and finally the uneven bars.
Bats come around in late innings of Wednesday's 7-6 win against Oakland
By
Hitting didn't come easy early on Wednesday for the baseball team against 2-10 Oakland. The Chippewas first hit off of Golden Grizzlies starter Mike Takashima did not come until a one out in the fourth inning when junior James Teas singled. Coach Steve Jaksa would have liked to have seen better at bats to begin the game, but he knew the hits would come.
Track alumnus still runs marathons
By
Dr. Barry Alexia was an All-American in track and field during his time at Central Michigan more than 30 years ago. But Alexia still has maintained his collegiate weight. Granted, Alexia still runs one marathon a year, and continues to run for the mental health aspect of it.
UNC rolls, Xavier escapes in overtime
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina went from running it up to locking it down. Now the Tar Heels are a step away from the Final Four again, hoping they can avoid another collapse like last year. Tyler Hansbrough scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half Thursday night and the top-seeded Tar Heels, not known for their defense, held Washington State to 32 percent shooting in a 68-47 win in the East Regional semifinals.
MSU plays No. 1 Memphis today
HOUSTON (AP) - Everyone knows about the freshman guard who does everything. It's Derrick Rose of Memphis, and the biggest question about his NBA future isn't whether he'll go, but whether he'll have an NCAA championship in tow when he does. But there's another good one in this South Regional.
